Accelerated Status

Exceptionally promising current UCI undergraduate Engineering students may petition for streamlined admission directly into a graduate program within The Samueli School of Engineering. Eligibility Requirements:

Must be in the 3rd year or beyond of undergraduate study. Must hold a cumulative grade point average of 3.5+ OR be in the Campuswide Honors Program. Must have completed one quarter of 199 Individual Research within Engineering OR one Engineering graduate technical

course.How to Petition: Students are required to submit an Accelerated Status Petition Form, as well as the Faculty Advisor Recommendation Form and Letter (in a signed, sealed envelope) to Graduate and Professional Studies (204 Rockwell Engineering Center). Students may join the Accelerated Status at any time in 3rd year or later. It is recommended to join as early as possible to take advantage of the opportunities provided. Students are strongly encouraged to submit the petition packet no later than December 1st of their last undergraduate year.

What are the advantages? Accelerated Status assists students in their preparation for graduate study by offering a head start on possible thesis research or coursework, as well as by allowing students to create an advisor/advisee relationship early.

Students in the Accelerated Status Program can begin their graduate coursework while still an undergraduate student. If students are offered MS admissions, they may petition to transfer up to 18 units of their MS degree requirements. If units were earned during undergraduate study, a letter from your undergraduate counselor is required stating coursework was not used towards bachelor degree. In addition, Accelerated Status students are eligible for reimbursement of their UCI Engineering graduate application fee.

Students within the program are also exempt from UCI's GRE requirement for MS graduate school admission. Students applying directly to the Ph.D. program will still need to complete the GRE requirement. Accelerated Status applicants are otherwise evaluated in the same manner as other applicants to the School's graduate programs.

Lastly, students within the program may apply for undergraduate research fellowship funding on a quarterly basis (including summer). The maximum funding amounts awarded for this fellowship will vary (typically up to $3000 maximum) and requires matching funds from a faculty advisor. This fellowship can be requested for up to 3 quarters during his/her undergraduate career (they do not need to be consecutive quarters). There is a separate application form for this process. Please see http://engineering.uci.edu/files/urf-application.pdf for more information about this opportunity.

Important notes about applying to graduate school:• Completing the Accelerated Status Petition form does not mean that the student has applied for

graduate admission to the University.• Benefits such as application fee reimbursement and GRE waiver are automatically applicable if the

student applies to the graduate program(s) within the same academic department as their undergraduate major(s). For other graduate programs, applicants should consult with the admissions chair of their intended graduate program.

• In order to receive the benefits of the Accelerated Status program as a graduate student, students must apply to graduate school the Fall quarter immediately after completing their undergraduate studies.

If you are interested in learning more about this option, please schedule a meeting with a Graduate Counselor by calling 949-824-8090.***** Please note that “accelerated” does not mean that you are working on your bachelor’s degree and your graduate degree at the same time. You must wait until after you have been accepted and have matriculated to petition for any graduate units earned during your undergraduate studies to apply to your M.S. or PhD degree. ***** ***** Please note that if you apply and are accepted as an Accelerated Status student you are under no obligation to attend graduate school at UCI*****

Revised 10/1/19

Petition for Accelerated Status Instructions: Please submit completed petition packet to Graduate and Professional Studies (204 Rockwell Engineering Center).

I. Personal Information

Name: ____________________________________________ Student ID #:_________________________

Email Address: _____________________________________ Phone Number: ________________________

II. Undergraduate Information

Undergraduate Major: ___________________________________ Cumulative GPA: _____________

Current Year: ____________ Expected Graduation (Quarter/Year): ______________

At the point of turning in this petition, I have taken (please mark all that apply):

________ 199 Individual Research (and received a B or better or Pass) with the following Engineering professor:

_____________________________________________________________________

________ at least one Engineering graduate course numbered 200-289 (and received a B or better)

III. Graduate Information

I am interested in beginning a UCI School of Engineering graduate program in (quarter/year): ______________

I am interested in the following program:

I would like to obtain a:

Biomedical Engineering

Chemical and Biomolecular EngineeringCivil and Environmental EngineeringElectrical and Computer Engineering

Engineering Management (interview required)

Materials and Manufacturing Technology School-wide Concentration Materials Science and Engineering

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Networked Systems

M.S. Only

Ph.D. (earning M.S. along the way)

IV. Short Answer Questions (Please attach a type-written sheet)

1) Please describe any research or internship experience you have had during undergrad school.

2) Please describe any other extracurricular activities you are involved in.

3) What motivating factors have led you to want to potentially pursue a graduate degree at UCI?

V. Name of Faculty Advisor:___________________________

The faculty advisor needs to be someone who would consider supporting you as a graduate student if you are admitted

into a M.S. or Ph.D. program at UCI. Please attach these materials in a signed, sealed envelope to your petition.

________________________________________________ _________________

Student Date

Graduate and Professional Studies Use Only: _______________________________________ _________

Associate Dean Signature Date

Verified GPA: ____________

Revised 10/1/19

Accelerated Status Petition: Faculty Advisor Recommendation Form

Accelerated Status allows students to form a potential advisor/advisee relationship before entering graduate school. The student’s

faculty advisor will mentor the student throughout their remaining time in undergraduate school, as well as be an advocate and

potential advisor for the student throughout his/her graduate work.

To be filled in by the student and given to the faculty advisor

Name: ________________________________________________________________

Student ID #: _________________________________________________________

Email Address: _________________________________________________________

I am interested in beginning a UCI School of Engineering graduate program in (quarter/year): _________________

I am interested in the following program:

I would like to obtain a:

To be filled in by the faculty advisor:

Name: ________________________________________________________________

Department: ___________________________________________________________

Email Address: _________________________________________________________

I have known this student for _________________________ quarters.

The capacity in which I have known this student is ____________________________________________________.

I am open to the possibility of being this student’s faculty advisor during his/her graduate study.

______ Yes ______ No

Recommendation Letter Details

Please attach a letter detailing your relationship with and impressions of this student and his/her potential for success in

graduate study. Please mention, specifically, any undergraduate research this student has completed that could potentially

become M.S. or Ph.D. thesis research.

Please place this form and the recommendation letter in a signed, sealed envelope and return it to the student for

submission with the Petition for Accelerated Status. Thank you for your input!

Biomedical Engineering

Chemical and Biomolecular EngineeringCivil and Environmental EngineeringElectrical and Computer Engineering

Engineering Management (interview required)

Materials and Manufacturing Technology School-wide Concentration Materials Science and Engineering

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Networked Systems

M.S. Only

Ph.D. (earning M.S. along the way)

Revised 10/1/19

Revised 10/1/19

Accelerated Status Process

Before Petitioning

• Take a 200 levelEngineeringcourse

OR

• Take units of 199

3rd year and beyond

• Fill out Petition forAccelerated Statusincluding FacultyrecommendationForm

If Accelerated Petition is

Approved...

• Option: enroll in upto 18 units ofgraduate courses

• Option: apply for theUndergraduateResearch Fellowship

Fall Quarter of your Last Year

• Apply to graduateschool at UC Irvine

• Obtain 3 Letters ofRecommendation

• Take GRE (ifapplying to PhDprogram)

If Admitted

• Submit Statementof Intent toRegister (SIR)indicating whetheror not you willattend

• Finish your B.S.

Begin Graduate

School

• Submit General Petition(s) to transfer courses

• Receive reimbursement stipend for UCI graduate application fee